ncmuseums

An occasional list of exhibits, programs, and events at North Carolina museums. Sponsored by the North Carolina Museums Council.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

NCMC Events From Around the State…  January 28, 2013

50th Anniversary NCMC Annual meeting registration is now under way! Take a look at the conference itinerary and register on-line.

1). Reynolda House (www.reynoldahouse.org) When the models in Edward Steichen’s “Vogue” and “Vanity Fair” cover photographs of the 1920s and ’30s were posing in fashions by Chanel and the House of Worth, the women of Reynolda were likely perusing the pages of those same publications, finding inspiration for their own wardrobes. In February, when Reynolda House Museum of American Art opens “Star Power: Edward Steichen’s Glamour Photography,” the museum will display dresses, hats, shoes and jewelry from the museum’s costume collection alongside Steichen’s iconic gelatin silver prints. The exhibition will be on view Feb. 23-May 19, 2013.
2). N.C. Maritime Museum at Beaufort (http://www.ncmaritimemuseums.com/beaufort.html)  January  29th 10 a.m., Get a first-hand look at some of the exports and imports moving through the North Carolina Port facility in Morehead City with a behind the scenes tour!  A brief presentation about the port and harbor pilots will precede this driving tour of the port warehouses, rail yard and docking facilities.  Established as a port city by Governor John Motely Morehead and others in 1857, today Morehead City maintains it coastal small town feel while large tanker ships come and go at the port.  This is a pre-registration program and requires a small fee. 
3). Asheville Art Museum (www.ashevilleart.org) “The Philadelphia Story: Contemporary Figurative Work Drawn from the Academy” debuted at the Asheville Art Museum on Saturday, January 26, 2013. The exhibition will be celebrated with an Opening Reception on the afternoon of Sunday, February 3, 2013 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. (free with membership or regular Museum admission). “The Philadelphia Story” remains on view in the Museum’s North Wing through Sunday, June 9, 2013. This exhibition celebrates figurative contemporary works produced over the past three decades by alumni of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
4). Weatherspoon Art Museum (http://weatherspoon.uncg.edu/) Art for Lunch: "The Cone Sisters Collect" on Wednesday, Jan 30, 12pm. Enjoy a 30 minute talk on “The Cone Sisters Collect” with Elaine Gustafson, Curator of Collections. Art for Lunch takes place in the galleries. Seating provided.  Free. The Weatherspoon Art Museum first began collecting works of art in the 1940s, and received an astonishing bounty in 1950 when Etta Cone bequeathed part of her and her sister Claribel’s collection to the museum.
5). SECCA (www.secca.org) presents “Talk @ SECCA: Conversation with NC Artist Frank Selby” on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. FREE and open to the public. SECCA Curator of Contemporary Art Steven Matijcio and artist Frank Selby, whose work is featured in the current exhibition” Frank Selby: Misunderstanding”, will discuss Frank’s philosophy of art and art-making.
6). Museum of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com) presents “Civil War Living History Commemoration of the Battle of Elizabeth City” on Saturday, February 9, 2013, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cannon firing on Waterfront Park, re-enactor encampments, demonstrations and tours of the Civil War sesquicentennial exhibit, Under Both Flags: Civil War in the Albemarle signals the beginning of a public history day at the Museum of the Albemarle. Union and Confederate living historians explore the hardships and depravations suffered by those who fought.  Live artillery firings take place in Waterfront Park, allowing visitors to interact with “the men who manned the guns.” 
7). Joel Lane Museum House (www.joellane.org) Elliot Engel will speak on "The Vanderbilts--All of Them" on Friday, February 15, 2013, at 7 pm at Long View Center, 118 South Person Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601. General admission tickets will be $25 per person. Advanced purchase is strongly recommended. Dr. Engel traces the amazing tale of this famous American dynasty from Cornelius, born in the eighteenth-century, to Gloria of the designer jeans. The triumphs and tragedies are all placed in the context of family dynamics and historical influences. What emerges is a story of riches, wretched excess, and real, raw emotional lives.
8). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences (http://naturalsciences.org) The Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition attracts photographers of all types, many of whom bring tens of thousands of dollars of equipment and years of experience into the field in hopes of capturing prize-winning images. But in the end, it’s the brain behind the equipment that ultimately makes the difference. This year’s Grand Prize winner, Mickey Moten, is proof. Moten, of Kings Mountain, used a $400 camera, some homemade equipment and a dose of ingenuity to come up with the winning picture. His photo, along with 30 other winning shots in 10 categories, are now on display at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences through the end of April 2013.
9). Cameron Art Museum (www.cameronart.com) Sun. Feb. 10 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (museum remains open until 5:00 pm). Free and open to the public. Reenactors, Battle of Forks Road skirmish, sutlers, period music, and more during the 8th Annual Civil War Living History. The weekend’s activities will also include an opening ceremony on Saturday, February 9. Cameron Art Museum commemorates the 148th anniversary of Battle of Forks Road on the museum's historic site with two days of family fun interacting with Confederate, Union and U.S. Colored Troop re-enactors.
10). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher (http://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher) presents “Behind the Scenes Tour” on Sundays, Feb. 3, 10, 24 at 1pm. Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at an Aquarium? Space for animal holding, husbandry, life support systems, and access to exhibits is hidden behind the aquarium walls. If you have ever cared for a home aquarium, you may have some idea of what it takes to operate a collection of salt and freshwater exhibits, with hundreds of animals. Accompany aquarium staff on a guided tour of animal quarantine, life support, food preparation, and access areas. Children younger than 8 are not permitted. Children between 8 and 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Fee: $15 for ages 13 and older, $13 for ages 8-12. Aquarium admission included, pre-registration required.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 21, 2013



50th Anniversary NCMC Annual meeting registration is now under way! Take a look at the conference itinerary and register on-line.

1). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History presents “Annual Robert Burns Dinner”, Saturday January 26, 6pm at Trio Restaurant 247 City Hall Street, Mount Airy. A special evening of dining, toasting, entertainment and regaling about the life of Scotland’s Poet Laureate, Robert Burns will feature traditional Scottish foods. Tickets are $50 and include a toast. Reservations must be made by Wednesday January 23.

2). Reynolda House When the models in Edward Steichen’s “Vogue” and “Vanity Fair” cover photographs of the 1920s and ’30s were posing in fashions by Chanel and the House of Worth, the women of Reynolda were likely perusing the pages of those same publications, finding inspiration for their own wardrobes. In February, when Reynolda House Museum of American Art opens “Star Power: Edward Steichen’s Glamour Photography,” the museum will display dresses, hats, shoes and jewelry from the museum’s costume collection alongside Steichen’s iconic gelatin silver prints. The exhibition will be on view Feb. 23-May 19, 2013.

3). HandsOn! Come into Hands On!- A Child’s Gallery, the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville all day on Thursday, January 24th for National Kazoo Day! Learn about the history of this unique instrument along with some fun facts and hear a few songs. Fun for all ages. Free with $5.00 admission fee and free for members. Kazoos are available for purchase for $1.00.

4). Asheville Art Museum  Asheville Art Museum is delighted to present two rare screenings of a program from the Fluxfilm Anthology in 16mm on Thursday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m. and Friday, January 25 at 12:00 p.m. (free with membership or $5 plus regular admission for non-members). Lent to us by the NY Filmmakers Cooperative, these special screenings allow viewers to experience the Flux films as closely as possible to the original intentions of the artists participating in the Fluxus art movement. These film screenings are appropriate for audiences ages 12 and up.

5). Cameron Art Museum Presents a lecture by Eleanor Lanahan on Zelda Fitzgerald, Sunday, February 3, 2012 at 3:00 pm. In tandem with the current exhibition, “Sometimes Madness is Wisdom: The Artwork of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald” which is on view through March 10, 2013 Eleanor Lanahan will be at the Cameron Art Museum to give a lecture on her grandmother, Zelda Fitzgerald. Along with being Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s granddaughter, Lanahan is also a writer, illustrator and filmmaker.

6). Joel Lane Museum House Dr. Christopher Armitage will speak on " Sir Walter Ralegh: Fortune’s Tennis Ball" on Sunday, February 3, 2013, 2 pm at the Visitors Center at 160 South Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Dr. Christopher Armitage will discuss the ambiguities and reversals in Sir Walter Raleigh’s life. Admission will be $15 for the general public and $10 for members of the Joel Lane Historical Society. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited, and advanced payment is required.

7). Natural Science Center of Greensboro presents “Groundhog Day” on February 2nd, 10:15am prediction. Come see Woody, the NSC’s own groundhog, make his official prediction of whether spring will come early this year in Greensboro. See first-hand if he’ll predict six more weeks of winter or if warmer temps are on their way. Free with general admission and/or membership.

8). N.C. Maritime Museum at Beaufort What is Bonehenge? Come learn about the story behind our 33.5’ whale skeleton that is on display! Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster will divulge it all, from the discovery of the whale to the necropsy and cleaning and assembly of the bones. The sperm whale that washed ashore over five years ago on South Core banks has taken on a new life at the Maritime Museum. Though whales are no longer hunted along our coast they still draw much attention when sighted. This free evening presentation will be sure to intrigue you. Thursday, January 24 at 7 p.m.

9). Bellamy Mansion Join us for a unique event on Friday, January 25th. From 6:30PM to 9:30PM, four beautifully restored properties will be open for your enjoyment. The evening is a progressive cocktail party with delicious hors d’oeuvres and wine served at each site. You are free to visit each house in whichever order you would like. The houses are within easy walking distance of each other and a trolley service between the houses will run a constant loop during the event. Parking is available at the Bellamy Mansion on 5th and Market Sts., in adjacent office lots, and along surrounding streets. Please bear in mind that the Wilsons (Tuscany) are creating sumptuous desserts in their home – so save room for that towards the end of your evening!

10). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Over the past few decades, NASA has sent instrumented robotic probes to all of the planets in the Solar System, the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, asteroids and comets. Learn about the beautiful, strange, mysterious and puzzling worlds this research has revealed when Dr. James Green, Director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, presents “50 Years of Solar System Exploration: New Worlds, New Discoveries” at this year’s Astronomy Days. Held at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on Saturday (9am-5pm) and Sunday (12-5pm), January 26-27, this event gives new as well as seasoned astronomy-buffs a unique view of the science of celestial objects. Free.

Monday, January 14, 2013

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 14, 2013



1). Town Creek Indian Mound Mound will start its 2013 season of “Town Creek Under Stars” on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. Participants will view the moon, Jupiter and other heavenly sights. With the planets Venus and Mars vanishing into the twilight, Jupiter is left as the brightest luminary in the night sky. Jupiter reached opposition in December and will begin to fade throughout the year, making this the best time to view this gas giant nestled in the constellation Taurus. A waxing moon will also be hanging out near Jupiter in the sky.

2). High Point Museum Dan Warren, a local historian with strong ties to the Trinity community, will speak at the High Point Museum Guild meeting Wednesday, January 16 at 10 am at the High Point Museum. His topic is Trinity College and the beginning of Duke University. Warren will discuss the progress from the first one room log school house of the 1830s to the foundation of the world renowned Duke University in 1892 and the far reaching effects that came out of this small community. He will relay “off the beaten path” stories of the economic, religious and social fabric of this early college town and the old Trinity connections.

3). Bellamy Mansion Museum Come and experience the finest Wilmington hospitality while raising money for a local landmark! Four magnificently restored houses will be open for a special Preservation Celebration on Friday, January 25th, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tour the Donald MacRae House, George Washington Williams House, David R. Murchison House and Tuscany, all located within walking distance in the downtown Historic District. Tickets are $35 each and include wine, heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts. All funds raised go to Bellamy Mansion Museum’s mission to provide educational opportunities for thousands of visitors, including school, church and civic groups.

4). Asheville Art Museum is delighted to present two rare screenings of a program from the Fluxfilm Anthology in 16mm on Thursday, January 17 at 7:00 p.m. and Friday, January 18 at 12:00 p.m. (free with membership or $5 plus regular admission for non-members). Lent to us by the NY Filmmakers Cooperative, these special screenings allow viewers to experience the Flux films as closely as possible to the original intentions of the artists participating in the Fluxus art movement. These film screenings are appropriate for audiences ages 12 and up.

5). Discovery Place The amazing journey of the monarch butterfly takes flight on the giant screen this winter when “Flight of the Butterflies” opens at Discovery Place’s The Charlotte Observer IMAX® Dome Theatre January 18. The breathtaking new adventure from SK Films tracks the voyage of hundreds of millions of butterflies between Canada and Mexico in a transfixing tale of scientific breakthrough, discovery, and one of the most incredible migrations on Earth. After debuting in New York and Los Angeles, Charlotte’s Discovery Place will be one of only 50 exclusive institutions nationwide to show the film in 2013.

6). N.C. Maritime Museum at Beaufort Time is running out to sign up for the annual Waterfowl Watching Excursion set for January 16-17! Maritime museum staff will partner with the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center of Harkers Island to lead you on an exciting whirlwind of bird watching through eastern North Carolina. Stops include several wildlife refuges and a national seashore.

7). Tryon Palace presents “Through the Lens: The Life of Bayard Wootten”, North Carolina History Center, Cullman Hall, Free Admission. New Bern Native Anthony Lilly and special guests illuminate the life of pioneering photographer Bayard Wootten, sharing her rich family history, her road to success, and her passion for the artistic medium which she used brilliantly to document the American South. Along with facts about Wootten and a select scene or two from a script he has written for an upcoming film about the photographer, Lilly and guests will discuss images made by Bayard Wootten that are in the collection of Tryon Palace. These significant photographs helped establish Wootten as a major regional photographer and continue to serve as a tribute to her artistic legacy and her determination to succeed in a profession that at the time, had seen little participation by women.

8). Cape Fear Museum Cape Fear Museum of History and Science needs your help cracking a curious case of “whodunit?” Families are asked to become a super sleuth, expect the unexpected, search for clues and solve an all new “Mystery at the Museum” Saturday, January 26 between 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (last ticket sold at 3:00). Something mysterious has happened at Cape Fear Museum! What’s missing and who would have stolen it? While on the scene, participants scour the Museum for evidence and practice their observation skills. Museum detectives will dust and lift fingerprints, as well as analyze the “blood type” found at the scene. Be on the lookout for red herrings and hidden evidence. Forensic science, technology and your imagination will help you unravel the latest Mystery at the Museum.

9). Museum of the Albemarle will exhibit the 13th Amendment beginning January 25, 2013 in “Under Both Flags: Civil War in the Albemarle”. To highlight the document, the Museum will host Gerald J. Prokopowicz, Ph.D. at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 27, 2013. Dr. Prokopowicz will discuss the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln in its final form on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation declared “all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a state that people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” The Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery, but would be followed by a constitutional amendment in order to guarantee the abolishment of slavery.

10). Guilford College Art Gallery The Guilford College Art Faculty Biennial Exhibition opens on Wednesday, February 6, with a reception from 1:30-3:30 in the main gallery, Hege Library. The exhibition features paintings, drawings, ceramics, photography, sculpture and textiles by Adele Wayman, Roy Nydorf, Mark Dixon, Charlie Tefft, Maia Dery, Kaitlyn Barlow, Nicki Deyton, Phil Haralam and Juie Rattley III. The exhibition will remain on view through May 17, 2013 (Gallery closed March 16-24 for Spring Break). An artists panel discussion, moderated by assistant professor of Art Kathryn Shields, will be held Thursday, April 4, 7:30-9 p.m., in the Art Gallery.

Monday, January 07, 2013

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 7, 2013
1). Tryon Palace presents “African-American Lecture Series: The Emancipation Proclamation” on January 17, 7:00 p.m. Free Admission. January 1, 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the signing and issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, a document that would redefine the Civil War and dramatically change the lives of African Americans in the United States. In this next installment of Tryon Palace's “African American Lecture Series”, attorney Bernie Siler examines the evolving attitudes of President Lincoln, both politically and personally, that eventually led to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

2). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher presents “Aquacamp- Incredible Invertebrates” on Monday, January 21, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Of the million or more animal species in the world, more than 98% are invertebrates. During this session campers will be introduced to a few of these including clams, snails, crabs, sea urchins, and sea stars. Live animal presentations and more are all part of this exciting program. Come and join the fun! Snacks are provided. Kids will need to bring a bag lunch. Fee: $40 per participant. Pre-registration required.

3). HandsOn! the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to come to the 1st class of a brand new program. “Learning Spanish -Creatively” will be held on Friday, January 11th at 11am. Students will learn basic Spanish vocabulary and colors through games, dramatic play, movement and songs for a 3 week series. This is a 3 class series that begins on January 11th and is every Friday until January 25th, (make-up) day is Friday March 1st. Each series will focus on new objectives. Repetition is very important for children to learn a language. Great for children ages 3-6. Cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members.

4). N.C. Museum of History When the nationally known Winston-Salem State University Burke Singers lift their voices to open the “12th Annual African American Cultural Celebration”, the female a capella group will captivate visitors at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. The outstanding quality and variety of more than 75 presenters will astound attendees at this free festival on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Award-winning musicians, actors, filmmakers and writers will join dancers, re-enactors, craftspeople and other presenters to celebrate North Carolina’s diverse African American heritage and culture — in a big way. This statewide kickoff to Black History Month in February is one of the museum’s largest yearly events. The festival will have fun and educational activities for all ages.

5). Battleship NORTH CAROLINA  presents “Behind the Scenes of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA: Hidden Battleship” on January 12, 2013, 8:30 - 12:30 and 1:30 - 5:30. For the explorer at heart, bring a friend and join us for a unique, behind-the-scenes tour of un-restored areas of the Battleship. The four-hour tour consists of small groups with guides. Guests explore the bow (officers' country and boatswain locker), third deck (Radio II, brig, after gyro, storage rooms, ammunition handling, Engineer's office, torpedo area), Engine room #1, the refrigerator compartments, and climb inside the fire control tower to the top of the ship. The Azalea Coast Radio Club will be in Radio II to explain their work on the ship's radio transmitters. It’s the tour that brings out the “Indiana Jones” in all of us, without the snakes!

6). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History In the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Surry Countians Continuing the Dream, 7 – 8:30pm 3rd floor of the museum Free Admission/donations accepted. This program of healing will focus on the sacrifices, love, learning, service, perseverance, and hope of the African-American community of Surry County. Light refreshments will follow the program.

7). Asheville Art Museum invites members and visitors to enjoy two Art Talks (guided tours) and a dual Opening Reception on Saturday, January 12 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. to recognize two important and evocative exhibitions now on display in the Museum’s East Wing: “Survivors and Liberators: Portraits” by Wilma Bulkin Siegel and “In the Camps”: Photographs by Erich Hartmann. The Opening Reception and Gallery Talks are free with membership or regular Museum admission. Artist Wilma Bulkin Siegel will lead a discussion and tour of her works on display in Survivors and Liberators, and Ruth Hartmann, wife of the late artist Erich Hartmann, will discuss her husband’s works with visitors viewing In the Camps. The Gallery Talks begin at 5:00 p.m. in the East Wing.

8). Waterworks Visual Art Center In conjunction with the exhibition, “Art of Faiths – Religions of the World: Tolerance and Diversity” (on view through February 9), Waterworks Visual Arts Center will host a public forum led by a panel of artists, theologians, and laity on Thursday, January 17 from 6-7:30pm at the Museum. Discussions will communicate the breadth and complexity of ideas of acceptance and social inclusiveness through art in promoting tolerance and religious diversity in our world today, and how art interacts with and supports religion present day, as it has throughout history. Admission is free but please rsvp.

9). Museum of the Albemarle Museum of the Albemarle will hold “Pre-Schooler Time” on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 10:00 am. Participants must be between the ages of 3 to 5 years old and must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-Schoolers will discover the instruments of a doctor from the past and participate in a hands-on activity. In addition, “History Tales: Make It, Take It” takes place on Friday, January 11, 2013 at 3:30 pm. Participants must be elementary age and accompanied by an adult. Participants will discover how the roles of doctors have changed through the years and participate in a hands-on activity.

10). Cameron Art Museum Register today for “After School Art Classes!” on Wednesdays: January 16th - February 20th, 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Children ages 6 to 10 will have the chance to explore the museum through guided tours, scavenger hunts and special activities, and then express their creativity through hands-on art projects in a variety of media (including drawing, painting, collage, printmaking and sculpture). Emphasis is placed on introduction to a wide array of materials and individual personal expression. On the final day of class, students will curate their own 'Student Art Reception' with pieces they've created throughout the course of class. 6 week session is $80 member/$100 non member.